Page 145 of Risky Obsession

“These pens must be the four lines on Pops’ map that I couldn’t work out,” I said.

“Yes.” Her eyes lit up. “That has to be it. Do you really think we are the first to find this after all these years?”

“Yeah, I do.” The network of concrete docks and support structures was extensive. “Look at the size of those pens. They must’ve sheltered multiple U-boats at once down here.”

Lacey nodded. “How do we get down there?” She pointed at the concrete platform on the left.

“Let’s try this way.” I inched across the jumble of rocks, checking each step as I went. “Careful, Lacey, you don’t know how unstable this area is.” My voice echoed against the cavernous walls.

The curved roof was made of reinforced concrete, explaining why the entire area didn’t cave in when the detonation took down the entrance to the submarine pens.

The sheer scope of the hidden facility was mind-blowing, and the silence was so profound it felt unnatural.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Lacey said.

I slid down about five feet of loose gravel and turned to help her.

She reached for my hand. “Do you think they got everyone out before they sabotaged this section?”

“Who knows.”

The air was thick with scents of dampness and rust, a stark contrast to the salty sea breeze that had accompanied us down the cliff face.

Working together, we picked a path down the rocky landslide. When we finally planted our feet on the far-right concrete platform, she laced her fingers with mine. Her grip was tight, showing just how spooked she was by this place.

I didn’t want to voice it, but I had a feeling some truly rotten things had happened here. The water in the pens wasn’t moldy and stagnant, confirming that the ocean wasn’t completely cut off.

We strolled past the U-boat in the pen, and the entire top was coveredin rust.

“I’d give anything to have a look inside that,” I said.

That vessel alone would be priceless.

“I can’t believe they abandoned it.” Lacey squeezed my hand.

“I’d say they had no choice. Looks to me like they left in a hurry. And by sabotaging the entrance, they hoped this place would never be found.”

Items were strewn everywhere. Tools, some rusted, some barely recognizable. Decaying timber boxes, tables with upturned chairs, toppled lamps, and even a few uniform pieces that would also fetch a fortune with an unscrupulous collector of Nazi paraphernalia.

As our footsteps echoed around the chasm, Lacey’s hand trembled slightly in mine. Maybe it was the chill in the air that intensified the farther we went. The spears of light filtering through the domed roof overhead added an alien-like atmosphere to the vast space.

The first building we came to had a roof, back wall, and two sides, but the entire front was open. Inside was a mechanic’s wet dream. Tools and equipment were scattered everywhere.

“Look at this stuff. Some of it would be worth a small fortune.” Releasing her hand, I picked up the biggest wrench I’d ever seen.

Lacey crouched at a metal suitcase-sized box that was under a table. The lid screeched as she opened it. Inside were journals, paperwork, and black and white photographs. “I can’t wait to go through this.”

I squatted at her side and we each pulled out a photo.

“Wow.” She frowned at the photo. “I can’t believe all this stuff is still here.”

“Shows how much of a hurry they were in to leave.”

“Do you think the gold is still down here?” She tossed the photo back into the box and reached for another.

“I think it’s promising.”

“Me too. So, where do we start looking?” She peered into the dark recesses at the back.